Eaters Open Wide for More Nutritious Menu Options

After years of belly stuffing, some industry insiders say that even the most indulgent eaters among the American dining public may finally have gotten their fill. The people who never cared about salt before? They’re starting to ask about salt, now. Forget about extra crispy- the Sizzler crowd now wants their chicken healthy, and farm-raised. Diners who once asked for brown gravy or cheese sauce on their french fries now want the potatoes to be hand-cut, and baked. And macaroni and cheese? It’s been replaced by a side of beets… Peggy Policastro, nutrition specialist for the New Jersey Institute for Food Nutrition and Health at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, said that while it’s true more people are aware of healthy eating than ever, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are actually eating better… "It’s all about psychology," said Policastro, who teaches a course at Rutgers called "The Hunger Frame," focusing on what she terms "behavioral nutrition."